Halloween
Sunday 31st October
As I’m sure you’re already aware – it’s Halloween this weekend, and thus there’s LOADS of spooky things going on across the city and the suburbs. To help you decide what you want to do for it, we’ve put together a round-up of all the best things happening. Which you can see here…
The Best Things to Do for Halloween in Manchester 2021
Events
FREE Food & Cocktails, £1 Drinks at this MASSIVE Northern Quarter Party
Friday 29th October
If you haven’t already RSVP’ed to this massive party in the Northern Quarter on Friday – do it by clicking below. We’ve basically got together with the Lost Cat team to host a big mucky party on Friday after work, where you’ll get 2x FREE drinks when you arrive, and then there’s FREE shots and sliders being passed around throughout the evening. Drinks are only £1 too! It’s gonna be a biggie.
Bongo’s Bingo XL Halloween with Natasha Bedingfield
Friday 29th October
This Friday and Saturday, Bongo’s Bingo will be hosting two of their biggest ever shows down at Manchester Central – special ‘XL’ versions of their mad-as-fuck bingo contest. What’s more – Natasha Bedingfield will be there too afterwards – singing some of her biggest hits ever.
Big in Japan
Friday 29th – Sunday 31st October
It’s finally here – Big in Japan – a “mash up of Total Wipeout & Drag Race but inside a RAVE”. That’s how this new insane live game show has been described, and with a cast of mad characters and the promise of one of the maddest nights out you could ever have – we’re pretty excited for this one.
Boda Skins Blackout Vault
Saturday 30th October
Boda Skins are hosting a special Black Friday event this Saturday, where you can go down and get your hands on discounted leather jackets, shearling jackets, puffer coats, and much more – just in time for winter! With plenty of jackets to go around, as well as music, drinks, and snacks, the 2021 BODA SKINS Vault is looking like the place to be to grab the perfect winter coat.
Manchester Anime & Gaming Con
Saturday 30th – Sunday 31st October
Perfect for fans of anime, video games, comics, sci-fi or cosplaying – this weekend marks the return of the Manchester Anime & Gaming Con at Sugden’s Sport Centre. There’s LOADS going on, from cosplay masquerades (with cash prizes) to game tournaments, VR, trading card tournaments, board games, RPGs, lip sync battles, anime bingo, and even a talent show!
Food & Drink
Oyster Season @ Three Little Words
Wednesday 27th – Sunday 31st October
It’s oyster season over at Three Little Words as they launch a brand new ‘Mother of Pearl’ gin that’s been made in collaboration with Michelin-starred restaurant Mana. Buy a cocktail from their Mother of Pearl menu and get a fresh oyster with every drink!
Didsbury Beer Festival 2021
Thursday 28th – Saturday 30th October
Taking place at St Catherine’s Community Centre in Didsbury this weekend, the Beer Festival will feature a range of over 50 different beers, cask and keg, as well as a wide selection of ciders and perries. Most of the beers are from small local breweries or those with local connections, but you’ll also find some rarities from across the whole of the UK.
Vocation x Wolf at the Door Tap Takeover
Thursday 27th October
Wolf at the Door will be welcoming the team from Vocation, the excellent brewery from Hebden Bridge. They’ll be having a chat, where you’ll hear all about the beers on tap and the ethos behind them. There’ll probably be plenty of freebies flying around too.
Bottomless Booze & Pumpkin Carving @ BAB
Saturday 30th October
You can get your hands on a hefty orange pumpkin and carve it up, whilst tucking into a special gourmet kebab and enjoying 2 hours of bottomless booze at BAB this Sunday for just £40. There’s three new Halloween babs to choose from, including a Lamb Meatball one, Deep Fried Sprat Fish and Okra Lotus Root Kebab.
To book tickets call: 0161 806 0813
Arts & Culture
Hairspray The Musical @ Palace Theatre
Monday 25th – Saturday 30th October
The ultimate feel-good musical, Hairspray comes to the Palace Theatre this week and it’ll have you smiling for days. Follow Tracy Turnblad as she becomes a local star, dancing and singing her way to fight for liberation, tolerance, and interracial unity in Baltimore in the 60s. Show-stopping numbers, dazzling costumes, and dizzying dance-routines, Hairspray has it all.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 30 minutes @ Hope Mill Theatre
Tuesday 26th October
Enjoy going to the theatre? Enjoy the songs of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Can’t be bothered to sit down for 2 hours? Well, go to this theatre event at Hope Mill Theatre this week. You only need to sit for 30 minutes as the whole play has been condensed into half an hour – and if you’ve got kids – they can go for FREE!
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow @ Oldham Coliseum
Tuesday 26th – Saturday 30th October
A thrilling new adaptation of the ultimate American gothic tale of Ichabod Crane and his dealings with the Headless Horseman in the creepy village of Sleepy Hollow. This play at Oldham’s Coliseum Theatre stars Coronation Street legends Wendi Peters and Bill Ward.
FilmFear @ HOME
Wednesday 27th – Saturday 30th October
Now in its sixth year, FilmFear is HOME & Film4’s line-up of horror, dark fairy-tales, eerie thrillers and chilling tales for the Halloween period. This isn’t just your run-of-the-mill scary films – there’s some truly terrifying and niche films here, including the UK premiere of The Scary of Sixty-First, a creepy tale of haunting and possession set against the real-world backdrop of the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein.
Clubs & Gigs
Aretha’s Anthems by Black Voices Quintet
Thursday 28th October
Founded by a group of musicians and scholars in 1987 with the mission statement to preserve black oral music traditions, Black Voices Quintet have performed to Nelson Mandela at Royal Albert Hall and played alongside Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba, Ray Charles and Hugh Masekela. They’ll be heading to Blues Kitchen this week playing the very best of Aretha Franklin.
Hit & Run Halloween @ Hidden
Friday 29th October
One of the biggest (and maddest) nights of the year, Hit & Run’s biggest ever Halloween line-up will be taking over all 3 floors at Hidden, with a number of international acts playing twisted sounds for the scariest night of the year. 50% of the acts are playing in Manchester for the first time.
Fat Out Festival 2021
Friday 29th – Sunday 31st October
Fat Out Fest will be taking place across five spaces at Regent Trading Estate, The Old Pint Pot and The White Hotel in Salford this Halloween weekend. Co-curated by Body Horror, Bollox, Box Records, Brave Exhibitions Festival, Counterflows Festival, Creatures of Catharsis, Gross Indecency & Upset the Rhythm, they’ll be be bringing all the noise, queer energy and mayhem to Salford.
90s Baby @ Albert Hall
Friday 29th October
One of the most pivotal eras in music history returns to Manchester this week, with a full-on celebration of all things nineties. Taking place at Albert Hall, 90s Baby will feature a wide range of the decade’s biggest live acts, all reunited for an unmissable evening of nostalgia-packed fun. There’s Robin S, SASH!, Ultra Naté, Black Box, K-Klass, Angie Brown, JX, Alex Party and Voices of House Gospel Choir.
